“From Bishop Robert E Smith, Sr!”

 From Bishop Robert E. Smith Sr.!

“The cross of Christ dealt with sin and sins (Rom. 6:10; 1 Pet. 2:24), Satan (Gen. 3:14,15; Heb. 2:14,15), and self (Gal. 2:20; 6:14).  So let's get to know Him (Phil. 3:10).”

“FULFILL YOUR MINISTRY!”

 2 Timothy 4:1-5                    (ESV)

Preach the Word

“[1] I charge you in the presence of GOD and of CHRIST JESUS, WHO is to judge the living and the dead, and by HIS appearing and HIS kingdom: [2] PREACH THE WORD; BE READY in season and out of season; REPROVE, REBUKE, and EXHORT, with COMPLETE PATIENCE and TEACHING. [3] For the time is coming when people will NOT ENDURE sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves TEACHERS TO SUIT THEIR OWN PASSIONS, [4] and will turn away from listening to the TRUTH and WANDER OFF INTO MYTHS. [5] AS FOR YOU, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, “FULFILL YOUR MINISTRY”.”

The Apostle Paul was a bold deliverer of THE WORD OF GOD!  Very often his MESSAGE was cutting, maybe even offensive.  He was usually plain spoken, enunciating precisely what ALMIGHTY GOD laid on his heart and mind.  He understood that the ONLY JUDGE WHO he needed to be concerned with was the ONE WHO will judge as ALL ONE DAY!!!

His ministry, like most Believers, was to PREACH THE WORD, and not to get sidetracked by petty differences in the CHURCH.  But he also had to TEACH HOLINESS, something that was a problem even in his time.  Identifying what was TRUTH and what was MYTH was vitally important to him, and precisely what he wrote to Timothy about in this letter.  

We need to be VERY CAREFUL NOT to associate with TEACHERS TO SUIT THEIR OWN PASSIONS, as they will probably find it difficult to “FULFILL YOUR MINISTRY”!!  Unless one is under the CONTROL of the SPIRIT OF GOD, the outcome of their ministry will be to “tickle the ears” of their listeners and not to grow the FLOCK they are assigned to lead.  

“FULFILL YOUR MINISTRY” isn’t accomplished by keeping the listeners of your MESSAGE entertained and busy with “church matters”!  Paul knew that a time of Dispersion and “falling away” might come, and Believers would need to be prepared for such a time!  We MUST be GROUNDED and MATURE in our FAITH, which can be a painful experience!  Never are we told that it WILL BE EASY!!!  We MUST be prepared to “FULFILL YOUR MINISTRY” and not allow “easy-believeism” to infiltrate our lives and ministry!!!

“LISTEN DILIGENTLY TO ME!”

 

Isaiah 55:1-4                    (ESV)

The Compassion of the LORD

    “[1] “Come, EVERYONE who thirsts,

        come to the waters;

    and he who has no money,

        come, BUY and eat!

    Come, BUY wine and milk

        WITHOUT MONEY and without price. 

    [2] Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,

        and your labor for that which does not satisfy?

    “LISTEN DILIGENTLY TO ME”, and EAT WHAT IS GOOD,

        and delight yourselves in rich food. 

    [3] Incline your ear, and come to ME;

        hear, THAT YOUR SOUL MAY LIVE;

    and I will make with you an everlasting covenant,

        MY STEADFAST, SURE LOVE FOR DAVID. 

    [4] Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples,

        a leader and commander for the peoples.”

When I was growing up (a LONG time ago!), I was taught a song that said “Be careful little eyes what you see”.  That song could have been written about the focal passages this morning?!?  2 Corinthians 4:3-4 plainly says “And even if our Gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the “god of this world” has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, TO KEEP THEM FROM SEEING the light of the gospel of the GLORY OF CHRIST, WHO IS THE IMAGE OF GOD.”!!!  Satan does EVERYTHING possible to prevent humanity from SEEING the GLORY OF CHRIST!!!

The WORD OF GOD (John 1:1) explicitly says that we MUST “LISTEN DILIGENTLY TO ME” in today’s Scripture. HE says in Isaiah 55:3 that we should “Incline your ear, and come to ME; hear, THAT YOUR SOUL MAY LIVE; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, MY STEADFAST, SURE LOVE FOR DAVID”!  We Believers are granted the same LOVE that THE WORD expressed for David here!  But we ARE REQUIRED to “LISTEN DILIGENTLY TO ME” before we are able to HEAR from HIM!!!

We need not bother to listen to HIM when we don’t have FAITH that HE is WHO HE says HE is!!  The WORD tells us to “LISTEN DILIGENTLY TO ME” not because we need something, but because we LOVE HIM and want to do what GLORIFIES HIM!!

“IT IS ENOUGH FOR US!”

 John 14:8-11                    (ESV)

[8] Philip said to HIM, “LORD, SHOW US THE FATHER, and “IT IS ENOUGH FOR US”.” [9] JESUS said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and YOU STILL DO NOT KNOW ME, Philip? Whoever has seen ME has seen the FATHER. How can you say, ‘Show us the FATHER’? [10] Do you not believe that I AM IN THE FATHER and THE FATHER IS IN ME? The words that I say to you I do not speak on MY OWN authority, but the FATHER WHO dwells in ME does HIS works. [11] Believe ME that I am in the FATHER and the FATHER is in ME, or else believe on account of the works themselves.”

Do you remember ever having someone in your life question your belief (or disbelief) in a subject that you SHOULD HAVE had been made aware of beforehand???  

THE LORD was in the midst of explaining to HIS Disciples WHO HE was in detail when Philip asked to be shown the FATHER, and “IT IS ENOUGH FOR US”!  Philip may have been speaking for others without cleaning it with them first, but to claim “IT IS ENOUGH FOR US” was pretty declarative.  Knowing that EVERYONE who could hear what he heard could not necessarily have their EYES OPENED  to understand that JESUS CHRIST and THE HEAVENLY FATHER are/were the same (John 10:30)!  

JESUS had just said to Thomas in John 14:6 “I AM THE WAY, and THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE.”  Now HE is telling HIS Disciples that HE is a PART of the HOLY TRINITY and that when they saw HIM they were SEEING HIS FATHER!  Their finite minds had to be OPENED to SEE the TRUTH, or they would not be able to COMPREHEND what JESUS was try to tell them!

HIS Disciples (with the exception of John) were ALL required to end their physical lives earlier than most because of who they were and what they Believed!  What if “IT IS ENOUGH FOR US” really meant that they were going to be willing to die for JESUS?  Knowing that JESUS CHRIST was willing to lay down HIS LIFE for them, AND RECLAIM THAT LIFE THREE DAYS LATER, probably gave them the ability to say “IT IS ENOUGH FOR US”!!!

“SEE THAT NO ONE LEADS YOU ASTRAY!”

 Matthew 24:3-8                    (ESV)

Signs of the End of the Age

“[3] As HE sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to HIM “privately”, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of YOUR coming and of the end of the age?” [4] And JESUS answered them, ““SEE THAT NO ONE LEADS YOU ASTRAY”. [5] For many will come in MY NAME, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and THEY WILL LEAD MANY ASTRAY. [6] And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, BUT THE END IS NOT YET. [7] For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. [8] All THESE ARE BUT THE BEGINNING OF THE BIRTH PAINS.”

Isn’t it interesting how many so-called pastors in modern society attempt to deliver a DIVINE message WITHOUT ever being TRANSFORMED by our CREATOR???  These are some undoubtedly who want to believe that they began by doing what they believe is what Scripture required of them, but a little success has caused their true driving force to be exposed!!!

Some “scholars” report that the book of Matthew was written in the last half of the first century.  Regardless, less than four verses of the fifty-two are NOT “written in RED”, in other words, JESUS spoke most of this ENTIRE CHAPTER HIMSELF!  It isn’t a coincidence that our CREATOR began HIS response to the disciples question “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of YOUR coming and of the end of the age?” by telling them “SEE THAT NO ONE LEADS YOU ASTRAY”!!!  How, then, are we born two thousand years later supposed to DISCERN precisely what the REAL TRUTH is when JESUS has been ascended since Matthew 28???  

It is INCUMBENT upon BELIEVERS to spend INVALUABLE time with the ONE WHOM we adore as CREATOR OF ALL!!!  How else can we “SEE THAT NO ONE LEADS YOU ASTRAY”???  JESUS said to HIS Disciple Thomas in John 14:6 “I AM THE WAY, and THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME.”  There is our ANSWER!  We have NO OTHER means to get to THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH JESUS!!!

“SEE THAT NO ONE LEADS YOU ASTRAY” might seem a difficult task when JESUS left “this world” two thousand years ago???  But HE lives inside of me through HIS HOLY SPIRIT, so I have no reason to doubt that HE IS WITH me!!!  This terribly weak servant needs to ALWAYS remember to “SEE THAT NO ONE LEADS YOU ASTRAY” by keeping JESUS CHRIST on the THRONE of my existence!!!

 

From Bishop Robert E Smith, Sr!

“There are the first principles of God (Heb.5:12) for babies. Then come things hard to be understood (2 Pet.3:16) denoting unstable saints. Now, the deep things of God (1 Cor.2:10) for a satisfied life in Christ; and finally, the unsearchable riches of Christ (Eph.3:18) that benefits all that are rightly related.”

“A STILL SMALL VOICE!”

 1 Kings 19:11-13                    (KJV)

“11 And HE said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; BUT the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; BUT the LORD was not in the earthquake: 12 And after the earthquake a fire; BUT the LORD was not in the fire: AND AFTER the fire “A STILL SMALL VOICE”. 13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?”

This morning I have found it interesting that ALMIGHTY GOD SPOKE to Elijah during an extremely disparaging moment in his life!  GOD did NOT speak through a “great and strong wind”, and NOT through “an earthquake”, and NOT by “a fire”???  But THE CREATOR SPOKE in “A STILL SMALL VOICE”, something that Elijah had to remove ALL distractions to be able to DISCERN what he was being told!?!

There have been several times that GOD has “placed” me in certain spots where I have been FORCED to listen to HIM.  But in July 2007 HE caused a “massive brain hemorrhage” to occur in my skull, a near fatal condition. After a SEVENTEEN day coma, and a “miraculous recovery”, HE RESTORED my health, and CHANGED my life completely!  “The meaning of the number 17 is that of "overcoming the enemy" and "COMPLETE VICTORY”." is written on a website called biblestudy.org.  It is NOT a coincidence that I was in a coma for PRECISELY SEVENTEEN days!!!

My life was so busy beforehand that “chaotic” might be a better description?  Since that period of my life, I have had my EYES OPENED to understand that when GOD wants me to get out of the busyness of “this world” and get ALONE WITH HIM, it is best that I find SOMEWAY to LISTEN to and for HIM!  For me, being ALONE with HIM is the ONLY WAY this can happen!!!

For this Brain Damaged person, maybe I need to understand that to HEAR “A STILL SMALL VOICE” I might HAVE to “remove distractions” and LISTEN FOR ALMIGHTY GOD more adeptly?  In verse nine before the focal passages above it is recorded..”.And he (Elijah) came thither unto a cave, and lodged there;”. Elijah didn’t go to a busy place to HEAR from GOD, he got alone so “A STILL SMALL VOICE” could speak to him….and he was able to HEAR!!!

“HE CHOSE US IN HIM!”

 Ephesians 1:3-10                    (ESV)

Spiritual Blessings in CHRIST 

“[3] Blessed be the GOD and FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHO has blessed us in CHRIST with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, [4] even as “HE CHOSE US IN HIM” BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, that we should be holy and blameless before HIM. In love [5] HE PREDESTINED US for adoption to HIMSELF as sons through JESUS CHRIST, according to the PURPOSE OF HIS WILL, [6] to the praise of HIS glorious grace, with which HE has blessed us in the Beloved. [7] In HIM we have redemption through HIS blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of HIS grace, [8] which HE lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight [9] making known to us the mystery of HIS will, according to HIS PURPOSE, which HE set forth in CHRIST[10] as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in HIM, things in heaven and things on earth.”

JESUS CHOSE (Ephesians 1:5 says PREDESTINED) ME BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD!  Why would HE CHOSE someone as unworthy and vile as I am?  

“I don’t know why JESUS loved me, I don’t know why HE cared, I don’t know why HE sacrificed HIS LIFE, Oh, but I’m glad, I’m glad HE did” (André Crouch 1971)!!!

“WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM!”

 Hebrews 11:6                    (ESV)

“[6] And “WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM”, for whoever would DRAW NEAR to GOD MUST BELIEVE that HE exists and that HE rewards those who seek HIM.”

Having heard this Bible verse for many years, when my Pastor used it near the end of his sermon this Sunday morning, I wrote it down so that I would remember it later and be able to ruminate over the impact it has had in my life!  

My mind almost immediately remembered the TESTIMONY my caregivers during the seventeen day coma in July 2007 gave regarding the ACTIONS of my wife.  When they were trying to “prepare” her for what they saw as the “inevitable”, her reply was “He is going to be just fine”!  Although her response was “scary”, to say the least, she says she actually BELIEVED that I would be ok!  Before the month of August came to an end, I was discharged from the Rehabilitation Hospital, walking by myself!  

My wife’s FAITH is a GIFT from ALMIGHTY GOD (Ephesians 2:8), as it is with everyone else who BELIEVES!  Humanity doesn’t have ANYTHING to make us worthy of KNOWING HIS GRACE!  It is ONLY because we are GIFTED to be able to SEE GOD perform MIRACULOUS WORKS that requires FAITH!  That FAITH comes from GOD, and HE requires it to be PLEASED!  

“WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM”, and that FAITH is a GIFT from GOD HIMSELF!  My FAITH has DRASTICALLY increased since, not only because of the MIRACULOUS healing from the Brain Hemorrhage, but because HE BLESSES me with every breath (Isaiah 42:5) I have EVER breathed!  I know that ALL GOOD THINGS come from ABOVE (James 1:17) and I am simply BLESSED to receive anything from HIM!!

JESUS CHRIST IS LIFE (John 1:4; 14:6)!  HE not only gives us life, but HE ALSO gives us the FAITH required to PLEASE HIMSELF!  Because “WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM”, and that FAITH COMES FROM HIM!!!

“NO ONE!”

 Romans 3:9-18 (ESV)

“NO ONE” Is Righteous

[9] What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that ALL, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, [10] as it is written: 

    “None is righteous, NO, NOT ONE; 
    [11] “NO ONE” understands;
        “NO ONE” seeks for GOD. 
    [12] All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
        “NO ONE” does good,
        NOT EVEN ONE.” 
    [13] “Their throat is an open grave;
        they use their tongues to deceive.”
    “The venom of asps is under their lips.” 
    [14] “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” 
    [15] “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 
    [16] in their paths are ruin and misery, 
    [17] and the way of peace they have not known.” 
    [18] “There is no fear of GOD before their eyes.”

King David sinned! Moses sinned! Isaiah sinned! None of the Apostles stood up for JESUS CHRIST when HE was being crucified for mankind!  

The Apostle Paul wrote the book of Romans, a letter to the church at Rome in the first century. He referred to King David (Psalm 14) when he wrote “NO ONE” seeks GOD! There isn’t a person who is without sin. “NO ONE”!!!  

From time to time there are people who single out humans for their personal choices that are less than “ideal”. Formerly, I was one of those people who wanted to help “crucify” people for their actions. But then it was made CLEAR to me that I was “the chief of sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15 (KJV)). It is extremely difficult to SEE the sins of others when I am so consumed with my own actions!!!

Please remember that we ALL are wretched people who are in need of a SAVIOR! “NO ONE” does good, NOT EVEN ONE.” It pains me to think that I am worse than many, BUT JESUS CHRIST CHOSE to rescue me knowing that “NO ONE” needed HIM more than this humble servant!!!

From Bishop Robert E. Smith Sr.

 From Bishop Robert E. Smith Sr.!

“We are justified by faith (Gal.2:16), live by faith (Gal.2:20), walk by faith  (2 Cor.5:7), and work by faith (1 Thess.1:2), when Christ lives big in us (Gal.4:19).”

“HE SAW!”

 2 Kings 6:17                    (ESV)

“Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and “HE SAW”, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

Elisha was a special man in the EYES of the LORD!  He KNEW that GOD can reveal things to the eyes of a person, but unless GOD DIVINELY OPENS their EYES, they will NEVER be able to comprehend what they are SEEING!!!

We don’t SEE the changes in our lives sometimes because we don’t have the ability to observe what is right in front of our eyes!!  

FATHER IN HEAVEN, cause me to SEE precisely what I need to SEE to GLORIFY YOUR NAME!  Grant my request to let people know that it is only because of YOUR GRACE that I am afforded the BLESSING to say “HE SAW”!!!

LETTING GO!!!

 It took me a LONG TIME to SEE this TRUTH!  We don’t take ONE BREATH (Isaiah 42:5) without ALMIGHTY GOD giving HIS BLESSING!!!

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“YOUR COMFORT!”

 Psalm 94:19                   (NASB)

“When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, YOUR comfort delights my soul.”

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SO many times I become very “anxious” about how my life is unfolding, but GOD already has EVERYTHING planned out for me, and after all, I have died to myself and HE is living inside of me!!!

“FEW ARE CHOSEN!”

 Matthew 22:1-14                (ESV)

The Parable of the Wedding Feast

“[1] And again JESUS spoke to them in parables, saying, [2] “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, [3] and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. [4] Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”’ [5] But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, [6] while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. [7] The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. [8] Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. [9] Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ [10] And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.

[11] “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. [12] And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. [13] Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ [14] For MANY ARE CALLED, but “FEW ARE CHOSEN”.”

Briefly this morning, “this world” is SO BUSY with its supposed cares and progressions that the WORD OF GOD has seemingly been relegated to insignificance by even those who claim to be CHOSEN.  A “brief” study time each day is what we “feel” is what we are called to do when JESUS is PLAINLY telling us in the Scriptures above that MANY ARE CALLED, but “FEW ARE CHOSEN”!!!

Which statement identifies your life??  Are you a part of the MANY ARE CALLED?  Or are you a portion that is called “FEW ARE CHOSEN”???  These words were spoken by THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES, and HE IS THE ONE WHO performs THE CHOOSING!  There is no faking or lying, because JESUS says “FEW ARE CHOSEN”!!!